Seraphina's Point Of View
"What took you so long, Ms. Vale?"
My throat closed. Not metaphorically. Physically. Like my body forgot the basic mechanics of breathing and swallowing at the same time.
I swallowed hard.
The sound felt loud in my own ears.
Too loud.
I tried to open my mouth to respond… something witty, something sharp, something that would reestablish control, but nothing came out.
Not a single word.
Because he was too close.
Way too close.
His breath was warm against the curve of my neck, deliberate, unhurried. It wasn't accidental proximity. It wasn't casual.
It was intentional.
And his scent… God.
It hit me fully now. Clean. Dark. Something woodsy underneath, something expensive but not loud about it. It wrapped around me before I could prepare for it, invaded my senses, slid under my skin like it had a key.
Focus, Seraphina. Focus.
